REGARDING Charles Johnson’s letter (HAS, Dec 27), the Conservative Party may have gained the most seats in parliament, but only just, and with only 36 per cent of the total vote.

With 64 per cent of the electorate voting against them this is hardly a ringing endorsement of their election manifesto, nor a resounding mandate to implement right wing policies on purely ideological grounds.

They are in power solely by the grace and favour of the Liberal Democrats which are now at their lowest standing in the polls for five years.

Nick Clegg’s “holy grail” of an alternative voting system appears a total irrelevance when there are now only two electoral choices (in Scotland that means Labour or SNP) and, even with an ineffective opposition, Labour are still ahead in the polls.

David Cameron’s talk of a “big society” and “we’re all in it together” have a hollow ring, particularly when most of the Government lead lives far removed from those of normal working people.

P Holmes, Barnard Castle.